Abstract
We discuss the \((L,n)\) -classification of excited light non-strange mesons, where L and n are orbital and radial quantum numbers. The selection of true non-strange quark-antiquark excited states and assigning to them definite L and n is a notoriously confusing problem. Three guiding principles for selection of correct observed states are formulated. They are applied for construction of a new \((L,n)\) -classification. This classification is consistent both with the approximate Regge form of the spectrum and with the hydrogen-like degeneracy, i.e., the dependence of mass on the sum \(L + n\) .
